PRIVITY

Etymology

Noun

privity (countable and uncountable, plural privities)

(obsolete) A divine mystery; something known only to God, or revealed only in holy scriptures. [12th–16th c.]

(now rare, archaic) Privacy, secrecy. [from 13th c.]

(obsolete) A private matter, a secret. [14th–17th c.]

(archaic, in the plural) The genitals. [from 14th c.]

(legal) A relationship between parties seen as being a result of their mutual interest or participation in a given transaction, e.g. contract, estate, etc. [from 16th c.]

The fact of being privy to something; knowledge, compliance. [from 16th c.]

Source: Wiktionary

Priv"i*ty, n.; pl. Privities (-tîz). Etym: [From Privy, a.: cf. F. privauté extreme familiarity.]

1. Privacy; secrecy; confidence. Chaucer. I will unto you, in privity, discover . . . my purpose. Spenser.

2. Private knowledge; joint knowledge with another of a private concern; cognizance implying consent or concurrence. All the doors were laid open for his departure, not without the privity of the Prince of Orange. Swift.

3. A private matter or business; a secret. Chaucer.

4. pl.

Definition: The genitals; the privates.

5. (Law)

Definition: A connection, or bond of union, between parties, as to some particular transaction; mutual or successive relationship to the same rights of property.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition